New Year’s Eve traffic enforcements planned

Area law enforcement officers and state troopers are planning extra enforcements for drunk driving patrols on New Year’s Eve.

Area law enforcement officers and state troopers are planning extra enforcements for drunk driving patrols on New Year’s Eve.

Shawnee Police Chief Russell Frantz said he’s planning to have extra officers on duty Monday night and into the overnight hours, with many of them linking up with state troopers in this area to conduct specific DUI patrols.

J.R. Kidney, assistant police chief in Tecumseh, said officers there would also be watching for those driving impaired.

“We’ll be out there in force and trying to save people’s lives,” Kidney said.

Pottawatomie County Sheriff Mike Booth said deputies will conduct the usual patrols on New Year’s, although he expects his highway safety deputy will coordinate various checkpoints.

New Year’s Eve enforcements are being planned by various agencies statewide, with law enforcement officials concentrating efforts on traffic violations such as DUI drivers, careless and reckless drivers, seat belt violations and other traffic law infractions.

People celebrating the New Year are encouraged to plan safe celebrations, which include designated drivers or other means of sober transportation, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.

During the New Year’s holiday period in 2012, which was from 6 p.m. Dec. 30, 2011 through midnight Jan. 2, 2012, six people died in six crashes across Oklahoma; 219 were injured. Of these, one death and 31 injuries were in alcohol-related crashes, according to the OHSO.